Clean sweep of Ulster Championships for Eileen as she wins 100 miles title race

Thursday, September 18, 2014
What a memorable weekend it has been for Ballymena Road Club – Chain Reaction Cycles – rider Eileen Burns.                                                                                          
On Saturday she recorded a new personal best time of 22 minutes 17 seconds in the Ernie Magwood 10 miles time trial at Woodgreen and followed this up on Sunday by winning the Ulster Ladies 100 miles time trial Championship also at Woodgreen.   
This was Eileen’s fourth Ulster time trial championship victory of the season with her other successes coming in the Ulster ladies 10, 25 and 50 miles distances. Eileen’s winning time on Sunday was 4 hours 23 minutes 33 seconds which is a remarkable performance in her first ever attempt at the distance.               
I’m not sure if any Northern Ireland lady competitor has ever achieved this feat before but she certainly is the first Ballymena Road Club rider to do so.
Afterwards an emotional Eileen said "(my husband) Jason and I both did the 100 today. Jason clocked 4 hours 17 minutes 04 seconds and I was 4 hours 23 minutes 33 seconds. Jason and I also raised some money for the children's hospice by doing the 100 but we not sure of the total collected yet.” 
"So that's me Ulster champion again. I am very proud of completing the 100 miles Time Trial, never mind being giving the title of Ulster 100 TT ladies champion. I got advice about pacing myself and I just stuck to that. It was the hardest physical challenge I have ever done. It even brought me to tears when I finished.” 
"We both did 10 miles time trial on Saturday and I was delighted to record a new personal best of 22:17. If someone had told me at the start of the season that I would get that time I would have never have believed them. I have thoroughly enjoyed this year’s racing season, but I’m glad it's finished and now for a well-earned rest lol.” 
Ballymena’s Steven Workman finished fifth fastest and was delighted with his personal best performance of 3.45.40 which was good enough for a bronze medal as third placed Ulster senior rider.
Results Ulster 100 miles time trial championship
(1) Marcus Christie (An Post) 3 hours 27 minutes 11 seconds. 
(2) B McCrystal (Cuchullain) 3.36.39 (Non Ulster rider) 
(3) Sean McIntyre (Orchard) 3.36.40 
(4) John Madden (Dig Deep) 3.37.36 (first veteran) 
(5) Steven Workman (Ballymena Road Club) 3.45.40 
(6) Stevie McAllister (Ballymoney) 3.47.25 
(16) Jason Burns (Ballymena) 4.17.04 
Ladies Champion Eileen Burns 4.23.33